Maine Restaurant Week Is On, and Here’s the Winner of Maine’s Incredible Breakfast Cook Off

The top buttons on our L.L. Bean jeans were released as we tasted our way through the best breakfast offerings in Maine at The Incredible Breakfast Cook Off, where 250 attendees tasted 12 delicious breakfast dishes and cast their votes for the tastiest offerings. The event kicked off Maine Restaurant Week 2019.

The event that featured the sweet and the savory raised over $5,500 for Preble St. in Portland.

The competition was tough, but here's how it shook out:

The winner was the Black Tie Co. Executive Chef Avery Richter and Pastry Chef Ashley Small. The team took home the title of “Best Breakfast” with their savory breakfast balsamic blueberry cream puff with gruyere and smoked bacon. It was the perfect bite and they got my vote. The balsamic blueberry created a perfect explosion of flavors. Holy moly.

Maine Restaurant Week

I recognized Isaac Aldrich, who as a previous runner-up at the Cook Off and is now with Bon Appetit Co., Colby College; he made a toasted croissant with scrambled eggs, buttered lobster, mascarpone creme, chive, and citrus caviar. He's now on my Christmas card list and I'm actively trying to become his friend.

This event is a major fundraiser for Preble Street, they provide so many services to our community; including their soup kitchen, teen center counseling services and more.